I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Morning friends! Welcome to another wonderous day we have been blessed with! For today, let’s ponder on the reasoning for many churches having “dinner on the ground”! Many years ago, my family’s home church would have a yearly lunch after church so the members could eat and fellowship together. As years went by it became less and less, then only at Homecoming which was to celebrate the actual date the church was established. Sure, there have been other celebrations created like, beginning revival, pancake breakfasts, Easter breakfast after service, Thanksgiving potlucks, and fifth Sunday sings with snacks after! Back in the beginning, way back in the pioneer days, dinner on the ground was because members lived so far away from the church, that they would bring food so they could eat, rest and then attend the evening services. This tradition just carried over year after year because it gave members a chance to commune together with other believers and families. There are many who have said that the idea also came from the “Feeding of the 5000”, when Jesus was ministering to the crowds and knew they needed to be fed. His breaking of the bread and fish was a showing of how God can provide all our needs under any circumstance. Another symbol has it as being given the true meaning as associated with the “last supper”, in which Jesus explained how the bread was His body, the drink was His blood; ultimately giving them the knowledge of how His sacrifice would save the world! With every reasoning, it all comes back to representation of how small offerings, when given to God, can be multiplied, and expanded beyond where we are! This also brings us to the scripture where God said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. He also tells us to, “Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25, NIV As you go through today, maybe think on how your church convenes together for communion of like-minded believers and how maybe there should be a “dinner on the ground” now and again, or maybe there needs to be more gatherings incorporated so that we can gather together thanking God for the blessings He provides to us all!
Scriptures:
Read: Revelation 3:20-22, I Corinthians 10:16-17, I Thessalonians 5:11, Luke 22:19-20, I Corinthians 11:26, Matthew 26:26-28, John 6:35, 53-58, I John 1:3-10, II Corinthians 13:14, Hebrews 10:23-25, Psalms 23:1-6, Mark 14:25
Prayer:
Dear Lord, thank you for the breaking of the bread, the pouring of the wine; all of which Christ reason for hanging on a cross proved your love for each of us, sacrificed love that gives us salvation and a promise of eternity with you. Thank you, Lord, for telling and proving to us that gathering together helps our churches grow in comradery and growth in our numbers of members in our churches. Amen.